Mar. 23
08:07 am JST

The central government recently rejected Okinawa Gov Denny Tamaki's call to halt the work to build a replacement facility for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the Henoko coastal area, despite a prefectural referendum that showed more than 70 percent of residents opposed the plan.

This is misinformation as nearly half the residents did not even vote.

Mar. 23
12:07 pm JST

darknuts,

May I ask the same question as I asked you on another thread -- How will the U.S. marines deal with Japan's security with this new base to be built for Ospreys and other VTOL aircraft to train when the most active, core elements of the marines are scheduled to transfer to Guam and elsewhere?

And do you think the U.S. can assure us that "when things simmer down with China" tomorrow, the marines will withdraw from Okinawa tomorrow too? Maybe, better put it would be that the U.S. will return those marine bases by a certain set date, for example, Aug. 15, 2044. Do you think the benevolent U.S. can promise that?

If you can't answer these questions, it will mean the U.S. intends to keep Okinawa as its military bastion forever for whatever reason. In other words, the Henoko relocation plan is motivated by nothing but the U.S.’s sheer greed and egotism a.k.a. “America-first”-ism.

Mar. 23
05:17 pm JST

Mar. 23
10:41 pm JST

If you can't answer these questions, it will mean the U.S. intends to keep Okinawa as its military bastion forever for whatever reason. In other words, the Henoko relocation plan is motivated by nothing but the U.S.’s sheer greed and egotism a.k.a. “America-first”-ism.

I didn’t know darknuts was a Senior Policy makes for the US or a high ranking Marine Strategist. Darknuts, why have you been holding out on sharing these revelations with us?!

Mar. 23
10:43 pm JST

Mar. 24
08:02 am JST

CrucialS,

If darknuts is in no position to answer my questions, why don't you help him answer? Of course, you'll also say you aren't in the position to answer such questions and won't help him out. But I'm sure even a high-ranking Marine strategist at the Pentagon wouldn't answer because, if he does, he'll easily play into my hands.

In other words, one can definitely say that those Marine bases are planted on Okinawa for no purpose other than for their own sake and hence Futenma’s replacement to be built in Henoko will be nothing but a white elephant strategically as well as financially.

Mar. 24
08:27 am JST

In other words, one can definitely say that those Marine bases are planted on Okinawa for no purpose other than for their own sake and hence Futenma’s replacement to be built in Henoko will be nothing but a white elephant strategically as well as financially.

Reading the same rehashed copy pasted replies is like being forced to listen to bad BGM on an elevator, you just cant wait for the music to change or get off.

Mar. 24
10:41 am JST

Yubaru,

Reading the same rehashed copy pasted replies is like being forced to listen to bad BGM on an elevator, you just cant wait for the music to change or get off.

But you weren't even on the elevator; only I, extanker, darknuts and CrucialS were. And you holler out from the waiting floor, "I'm tired of hearing that same old GBM," the moment the doors are open. Lol!

Mar. 24
11:08 am JST

But you weren't even on the elevator; only I, extanker, darknuts and CrucialS were. And you holler out from the waiting floor, "I'm tired of hearing that same old GBM," the moment the doors are open. Lol!

Mar. 24
11:38 am JST

Yubaru,

Of course, the elevator is free and open for everyone to use. But you can't interrupt a discussion already going on inside the elevator by shouting from a waiting floor, "Stop it. I'm tired of hearing that old BGM." Lol heaped upon another.

Mar. 24
02:42 pm JST

Yet the "pro base" Okinawa people did not come out in force. They were in fact beat 3 to 1 in the election. Not voting does not mean a "pro base" vote. Tamaki is doing the will of the people of Okinawa. Of course the Americans object. They are staying at Club Okinawa living the good life that is denied to the indigenous people.

Not having this new airfield or MCAS Futenma will not make Okinawa less safe. If the Chinese invade Okinawa the new airfield will not help at all. It is just another target.

The will of the people needs to be done and the American occupation of Okinawa needs to be ended! The Americans are more worried about their secrets than the Okinawa people. If another American jet crashes into another Japanese school, the Americans will arrive with their guns and inhibit the rescue of the students in the name of American security. It has happened before and will happen again. Stop the new airfield and close MCAS Futenma, it is the will of the people of Okinawa!

Mar. 24
03:16 pm JST

@voiceofokinawa

How do I know the bases will leave when they are no longer needed? Two words, The Phillipines. They used to have a base, then they voted to get rid of it. Now it's gone. Your acting as if its completely up to the US as to when it will leave Japan. There are people on this board that are under the perpetual delusion that this is some sort of occupation. It is not. If Japan wanted the US gone, we would have to leave. What else would we do? Tell me. The bases are here for the benefit of both countries. When that changes, it will be up to Japan to do what it feels is best for itself. No one else can make that decision.

Right now you have NK firing missiles over Japan, you have China claiming an entire sea, threatening to invade a neiboring country and claiming parts of Okinawa for itself. Japan has an aging population and a military that will dwindle as a result. Do you really think its beneficial for the US to leave?

Mar. 24
03:24 pm JST

Attention attention, I'm here to occupy this space for myself, if you are anti-base, you will be shot... If you are pro-base, you will be shot...if I deem you a threat, you will be shot.... Yet somehow in the real world I am not occupying anything but a 1LDK....I get judged by the color of my skin in Okinawa like I killed someone and my taxes are wasted on open base events that anti-base minded people on this thread attend and spend their hard earned yen.... Please stop drinking the "follow everyone and just repeat others and not do your own research" water. Let's say that Japan tells the US to leave... What is your plans? More shopping malls and hotels? You are just setting yourself up for failure and that's why Okinawa is so distant from the real world.

Mar. 24
06:33 pm JST

But you said on another thread (Mar. 20 article: "Okinawa governor tries again ...") that:

"those marines need to be there. Perhaps one day, when things simmer down with China, we can move more assets off the islands. For now, security is more important"

You asserted that statementas if you were an authoritative person charged with the U.S. policy toward Okinawa bases. So you must be in a position to declare that when "things simmer down with China" tomorrow, the Marines will "move assets off the islands" and evacuate from Okinawa tomorrow, too, for they are needed no more under such circumstances.

Mar. 24
06:46 pm JST

YuriOtani, I never said that I couldn't make it, I was making fun of you and voiceofokinawa and anyone else that is a sheep for the conspiracy theories and how you are stuck inside a fake world. I was also complaining about how some people in Okinawa are so against the US military and yet as soon as they can get on base, they are happy to spend their money on overpriced food and trinkets. I will admit that I prefer mainland Japan over Okinawa any day and to answer your question as to why I am here, its for the money.

Mar. 24
06:56 pm JST

コーリー, it is rude to compare people to sheep because they disagree with the US military. Second, while you have trouble in Okinawa, try being an Okinawa person in a deep red state. My reason is due to medical treatment for my husband.

Mar. 25
01:43 pm JST

Yet the "pro base" Okinawa people did not come out in force. They were in fact beat 3 to 1 in the election. Not voting does not mean a "pro base" vote.

You are absolutely right. A non vote does not imply a stance on the subject. Personally, I would assume a lack of participation to be a sign of indifference but we don't really know that. The facts we can from the referendum is that 37 percent of voters people oppose the relocation. Anything else is just speculation.

Not having this new airfield or MCAS Futenma will not make Okinawa less safe. If the Chinese invade Okinawa the new airfield will not help at all. It is just another target.

If China invades Okinawa, it will be at war with Japan and likely the US. They will have a lot more to worry about that an airfield. The airfield is there to help perform operations in the pacific. Neither it not the marines on okinawa are soley tasked with protecting the islands they are part of a bigger machine.

Mar. 25
03:47 pm JST

Of course. And your opinion was: "Those marines need to be there. Perhaps one day, when things simmer down with China, we can move more assets off the islands. For now, security is more important.."

If you can say this much so assertively, then in the same vein you can answer the following questions as your personal opinion:

How will the Okinawa-deployed U.S. marines deal with Japan's security with this new base to be built in Henoko when the most active, core elements of them, combat troops,. are scheduled to transfer to Guam and elsewhere?

And do you think the U.S. can assure us that "when things simmer down with China" tomorrow, the marines will withdraw from Okinawa tomorrow too? Maybe, better put it would be that the U.S. will return those marine bases by a certain set date, for example, Aug. 15, 2044. Do you think the benevolent U.S. can promise that?